Mechanical toy.



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MECHANICAL TOY. (Mpucmn med Aug. Q5, 1899.)

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A.V J. KECKV.. MCHANICL TY. (Application med Aug'za, m99.)

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A. J. Knacki Y MECHANICAL TY. (Application Bled `Aug. 25,1899.)

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' ALBERT J. Knorr, or sr. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

MECHANICAL TOY.

SPECIFlCATIONforming part ot' Letters Patent No. 695,058, dated March 1 1, 1902. Application iiled August 25, 1899. Serial No. 728,408. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, ALBERT J. KEoK, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toys for children; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as herein# after shown and described,land specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a foreshortened elevation, Fig. 2 is a foreshortened plan, and Fig. 3 is a foreshortened sectional side elevation, of the toy. Fig. 4 is afront view of one of the attachments detached. Fig. 5 is an end view, Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation, and Fig. 7 is a plan view, enlarged, of one of the traveling carriages or cars removed. Fig. 8 is a side view on the same scale as Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the track portion of the toy folded together as it appears when not in use or when being transported. Fig. 9 is a crosssectional view, Fig. 10 is a sectional side elevation, and Fig. 11 is a plan view, enlarged, of a modified form of carriage or car, together with a section of the track. Fig. 12 is an enlarged side view of another modified form of carriage or car detached. Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of one form of the toy, illustrating a modification in the construction. Fig. 14. is an enlarged cross-sectional view, Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional side elevation, and Fig. 16 is an enlarged plan view, of a section of the track and one of the carriages employed in the modification shown in Fig. 13.

In this invention is comprised an inclined track upon which one or more carriages or cars are arranged to be moved back and forth, the cars or carriages adapted to support figobjects. The track may. be constructed in any suitable manner, but will preferably be in twoor more parts A A2 and semitubular in cross-section and hinged together, as at ct,so as to be folded together, as shown in Fig. 8, when not in use or for shipment to reduce the space occupied by lthe track. At one end the .trackV is provided with a base Apreferably weighted or otherwise arranged to give stability to the lower end of the track, while the other end is provided with a bracket or plate A4 to rest against the wall of a room and support the other end of the track, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 13.

At the lower end ofthe section A' of the track is arranged a cord-sheave B and a series of smaller idler and carrier or tension sheaves 13213213", while similarcarrier-sheaves B5B B7 will be arranged in the upper end of the upper section A2 of the track, these various sheaves adapted to support and guide an endless cord D, the axle of the sheave Bi being provided with acrank-handle B3, by which the cord may be run over the pulleys, as shown, when the sheave B is revolved. By this arrangement the revolution of the crank B8 will cause the cord D to travel upward in the upper part of the track-sections A A2 and downward within the lower part, the two bights of the traveling cord being shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4., 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.

To arrange the device, it is unfolded and set with the plate A4 at any convenient point against the wall of the room and with the weighted end A3 on the iioor at the proper point to bring the two parts A A2 of the track in alinement and with the cord D in proper position around the sheaves. When thus arranged, a device is provided which can be employed in a multitude of ways to amuse, interest, andinstructchildren. Forinstance, figures of many different kinds may be connected to the traveling cord and made to move up and down the track as the crank Bs is turned backward and forward, or small carriages or cars may be provided adapted to be coupled to the cord and upon which the figures may be placed. These cars or carriages maybe provided with coupling devices adapted to be automatically released when the car or carriage reaches a given point on the track and permit the carriage to slide back again down the track by gravity. For the purpose of illustration l have shown several forms of these cars or carriages. In Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7,

12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 the carriage is in the form of a block E', with itslower part projecting into the hollow of the track and with ilanged wheels E2 running upon the upper edges of the track-sections as rails. Some form of gripping or coupling means will be provided whereby the cars or carriages may IOO be connected to the traveling cord, and for the purpose of illustration I have shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, G, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 a simple form of such coupling. This consists of a forked plate U, pivotally connected at b2 to the body of the carriage and with the forks embracing the upper bight of the cord D and with a projection b3, adapted to be acted on by a spring b4 to retain the` plate either in its closed or open relation. Thus when in its outward position, as in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 12, the spring will hold the plate b' across the cord at an angle, so that the forks will clamp the cord and cause the carriage to be drawn along by the traveling cord. Then if the plate b' be turned at right angles to the cord, as in Fig. 1l, the spring b4 will retain the plate in that position and keep the forks clearl of the cord, so that the carriage will move freely over the cord or the cord will move freely through the forked plate. If, therefore, a stop d be provided at the upper end of the track, against which the outer free end of the plate b will strike, the forked plate will be thrown over at right angles to the cord and the coupling will be released when the carriage reaches the upper end of the track and will then run back down the track by gravity. This will cause endless amusement and pastime to children and will encourage the exercise of the inventive faculty in inducing them to devise different figures and objects to place upon the carriages. The carriages are shown provided with spring-clips g, between which the objects to be carried by the carriages may be supported.

F represents a wire frame covered with a thin paper diaphragm F2 and adapted to be set above the track at any convenient point, so that as the carriage runs down the inclined track and is suddenly stopped at the bottom the figure, as h in Fig. 3, will be thrown through the paper diaphragm.

In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 is shown a carriage 'y having a mechanism for revolving the figures as they are moved up and down the track, consisting of a friction-wheel G, arranged to run upon the bottom of the track A A2 and adapted to engage a horizontal disk or frame G2, mounted to revolve upon the carriage, and thereby impart a revolving motion to the frame. Thus any figures mounted upon the frame G2, as by clips g, will be given a rotating motion at the same time they are moved up or down the tracks A A2.

In Fig. l2 is shown a rattle attachment to the carriage, consisting of a toothed wheel I-I upon one of the anged wheels E2 and adapted to act upon a spring H2, whereby a rattling noise will be made as the carriage moves up and down the track A' A2.

A great variety of different figures and images may thus be utilized anddevised.

lIn Fig. 3 a bell K is shown at the upper end of the track-section A2," against which the carriage will strike at the end of its upward movement, and thus sound the bell.

In the modification shown in Figs. 13, 14, 15, and 16 the cord D is provided with one or more balls or other enlargements m', adapted to engage a forked catch 'm2 on the carriage, and thus carry the carriage along with the moving cord. At the upper end ofthe tracksection A2 is arranged anncline A5, up which the carriage runs to cause the forked plate m2 to be elevated above the obstruction m' on the cord, and thus release the carriage and allow it to run backward down the inclined track. This forms a very simple and effective automatically-releasable coupling.

In Fig. 3 an 'extension M' is shown connected at one end at M2 to the lower end of the main track-section and resting by its other end upon the floor, upon which the weighted base A3 rests to form a continuation of the track A', whereby means are provided for guiding the carriages from the end of the track to the floor. By this means the carriage when released from the endless carrying-cord will be conducted from the track to the fioor and thence across the iioor as far as its momentum will carry it.

The endless-cord arrangement provides that the motion may be continuous, so that while one child operates the drum another child or a number of children can find occupation and amusement by placing the carriages upon the traveling cord as it is continuously moving. Thus it will not be necessary to wait for the cord to be at any par- IOO ticular or predetermined position before the carriages are coupled to it, as it would be if the cord were not an endless one, but extended only from end to end of the track.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In a mechanical toy, an inclined track having a weight at one end, and supported thereby loosely upon the floor, and with the other end restingloosely against a Vertical support, pulleys journaled in the ends of said track, an endless cable engaging said pulleys, and with projections thereon at suitable intervals, a carriage supported upon said track, and with depending catch engaging said cable, and adapted to be engaged by said projection thereon, and an inclined projection upon said track at its upper end adapted to receive said carriage, and cause it to be elevated to disengage said catch from said cable projection, and permit said car to run down said inclined track by gravity, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mechanical toy, a Weight resting loosely upon the floor, a standard rising vertically from said weight, a track projecting at an angle from the upper end of said standard, and adapted to be supported loosely by its upper end againsta vertical support, acarriage running upon said track, pulleys in the opposite ends of said track, an endless cable running over said pulleys7 and with projections at suitable intervals thereon, a catch upon said carriage, and engaging said projections on said cable, means for actuating said cable, and means whereby said catch may be disengaged from said cable at a predetermined point in its transit, substantially as set forth.

3. In a mechanical toy, a weight resting loosely upon the floor, a standard rising vertically from said weight, a track projecting at an angle from the upper end of said standard, and adapted to be supported loosely by its upperend againsta vertical support, a carriage running upon said track, pulleys in the opposite ends of said track, an endless cable running over said pulleys, and with projections at suitable intervals thereon, a catch upon said carriage, and engaging said projections on said'cable, means for actuating said cable, and means whereby said catch may be disengaged from said cable at a predetermined point in its transit, a bridging-section connected to the lower end of said track by one end, and resting by its other end upon the iloor loosely to form a continuation to said track at its lower end, and provide means for conducting said carriage from said track to the floor, substantially as set forth.

4. In a mechanical toy, a weight resting loosely upon the door, a standard rising ver` tically fromsaid weight, a track projecting at an angle from the upper end of said standard, and adapted to be supported loosely by its upper end against a vertical support, said track formed in two parts and hinged at thev ALBERT J. KECK In presence of- J. W. STEVENS, C. N. WooDvvARD. 

